A serial shoplifter who stole household products and high quality meats has been jailed. He had been released from prison for shoplifting before.
Aaron Kelly, 32, stole a range of food and household items from shops along Southchurch Drive in Clifton during a month-long stealing spree. He lifted detergent, washing tablets and high-quality steaks and meat joints before being caught.
On March 10 this year he was spotted by a security guard and intercepted. As the security guard went to take the bag, which was filled with stolen goods, Kelly resisted and punched the security guard in the hand.
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He had recently been released from prison for previous shoplifting offences. He was known in the area and officers were given his name as the offender for a number of the offences.
Kelly was finally arrested and brought into custody on March 19. When officers searched him they recovered a quantity of cannabis.
Appearing at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on Monday, March 21, Kelly was sentenced to 26 weeks in prison. He pleaded guilty to nine counts of theft, two counts of attempted theft, assault and possessing a class B substance.
Sergeant Nigel Bradley, of the Clifton neighbourhood policing team, said: “This conviction is the result of excellent and persistent work by our local officers. Retail crime can often be seen as a victimless crime. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth, as this case shows.
"When shop staff or, in this case, security staff, are subjected to threats or assaults, they are left living in fear both inside and outside of the workplace. A number of shops in Clifton were being continually targeted and their co-operation has been invaluable in collecting the evidence. We understand how much of an impact such incidents can have on shop workers and for wider businesses.
“We have continued to proactively visit shops and workers in the area as part of our ongoing solidarity with the retail industry and ‘Shopkind’ campaign. In particular, I want to thank PC Jane Gibson who has been a stalwart not only in this case but in helping to build and keep the great relationship we have with local shops overall.
“Kelly had not long been released from prison and decided to again target shops in the area. Thanks to the tireless work being conducted by our teams, he is now back behind bars, which is a great result and I hope will offer reassurance to businesses in the area that we will not tolerate this behaviour.
“We will continue to work closely with partners and residents, as we have done successfully in the past, to ensure that prolific shoplifters like him are serving long prison sentences.”
